Endoscope system

• US 7,582,056 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Noguchi, Toshiaki, Suzuki, Eiri, Kuroshima, Hisashi, Gocho, Masanori, Hasegawa, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/327,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 600/132, 600/178, 600/109, 600/110
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00117 Optical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00119 Tubes or pipes in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use

Abstract

An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an image pickup device, a control unit, signal lines, a first earth electric wire, a light guide and a scope connector. The scope connector is formed by collecting a first electric contact, a first non-contact power transmitting portion serving as a non-contact electromagnetic induction and coupling device, a first non-contact signal transmitting portion, and a first illumination light transmitting portion. The system further includes an endoscope control device having a multi-connector portion to which the scope connector is detachably connected, a second electrical contact, which is provided in the multi-connector portion and connectable to the first electric contact, a second non-contact power transmitting portion and a second non-contact signal transmitting portion which are provided in the multi-connector portion and connectable to the first non-contact power transmitting portion and the first non-contact signal transmitting portion respectively, and a video signal processing unit for controlling the control unit of the endoscope.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope, the endoscope comprising;

a main body unit in which a charge coupled device, a control unit, signal lines, a first earth electric wire and a light guide are arranged, and including a connecting portion which is formed by collecting a first electric contact, a first non-contact power transmitting portion serving as a non-contact electromagnetic induction and coupling device, a first non-contact signal transmitting portion, and a first illumination light transmitting portion, a and

a universal cord unit in which a second earth electric wire, signal lines, a power supply and a light guide are inserted, the universal cord unit including at one end portion which is detachably connected to the connecting portion of the main body unit, a second electrical contact being connected to the second earth electric wire, which is connectable to the first electric contact of the main body unit, a second non-contact power transmitting portion and a second non-contact signal transmitting portion respectively connected to the first non-contact power transmitting portion and the first non-contact signal transmitting portion of the main body unit, and a second illumination light transmitting portion connectable to the first illumination light transmitting option of the main body, unit and the universal cord unit including a scope connector at another end portion; and

an endoscope control device, the endoscope control device comprising;

a multi-connector portion to which the scope connector of the universal cord unit is detachably arranged, and

a video signal processing unit which controls the control unit of the endoscope.

2. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein two or more of the non-contact power transmitting portions, the non-contact signal transmitting portions, an electric wire connecting portion for an electric knife, and an illuminating light transmitting portion are combined, and are arranged to a connecting portion of the universal cord unit and a connecting portion of the main body unit.

3. An endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the electric wire connecting portion for the electric knife comprises a high-frequency connecting unit.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the non-contact power transmitting portions and the non-contact signal transmitting portions comprising the electromagnetic induction and coupling device are coaxially arranged with the illuminating light transmitting portion as center.

5. An endoscope system according to claim 4, wherein the non-contact power transmitting portions and the non-contact signal transmitting portions comprising the electromagnetic induction and coupling device are coaxially arranged to the scope connector and the multi-connector portion with the illuminating light transmitting portion as center, and further comprising a peripheral groove being arranged relative to the scope connector, and a ball plunger being arranged relative to the multi-connector portion, corresponding to the peripheral groove.

6. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein an LED, which is lit-on by power obtained via the non-contact power transmitting portions, is arranged to the main body unit.

7. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact power transmitting portions and the non-contact signal transmitting portions comprise a common electromagnetic induction and coupling device.

8. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope in which;

an image pick up device,

a control unit,

signal lines,

a first earth electric wire and a light guide are arranged, and including a scope connector formed by collecting a first electric contact, a first non-contact power transmitting portion serving as a non-contact electromagnetic induction and coupling device, a first non-contact signal transmitting portion, and a first illumination light transmitting portion, and

an endoscope control device comprising;

a multi-connector portion to which the scope connector is detachably connected;

a second electrical contact, which is provided in the multi-connector portion and connectable to the first electric contact;

a second non-contact power transmitting portion and a second non-contact signal transmitting portion which are provided in the multi-connector portion and connectable to the first non-contact power transmitting portion and the first non-contact signal transmitting portion respectively, and

a video signal processing unit for controlling the control unit of the endoscope.